Ever since I started eating clean, I have been a granola fiend. Granola makes me super happy – but my wallet? Not so much.

My fam has been telling me for months that I should make my own, but since granola-making seemed like a foreign art to me, I stuck with buying a bag a week from Whole Paycheck Foods for seven bucks a pop.

But I finally gave in last week and forced my brother to send me the recipe for homemade granola that he and his gf use.

I changed it around a teensy bit and love the results! It tastes just as good as the store-bought stuff, but at half the price.

Therefore, I am being a “good girl,” as my friend Vicki put it, and sat on the couch for the past two days instead of going to the gym. It was very hard not be able to fill in my pretty training chart, but I know it’s for the best not to aggravate a baby injury that could be made a lot worse.

The Shamrock Half is only 23 days away and I want to make sure I am 100% for the last few weeks of training.

Whatever – it’s a step back week anyway, so I’m trying to make myself feel more legit that my mileage for this week is going to be zilch.

If you follow me on twitter, you’ll know that I went on a running store shopping spree this weekend.

I tried to keep my purchases to a minimum, but it was hard to once I kept spotting more and more running related things that I needed.

My plan was to go to Pacers for some new shoes. I still love my minimalist shoes, but as I get into longer distances, they just weren’t cutting it [for me]. I am continuing to explore the barefoot running trend, but I’m starting to realize that they might be for super serious runners that weigh forty-five pounds.

I don’t weigh forty-five pounds, so my left arch was not too happy.

But I’ll definitely wear them for shorter workouts, and for races like 5K’s and 10Ks.

I did buy some shoes, but I ended up getting a little sidetracked first. Whoops.

Fuel galore, body glide, and sports laundry detergent.

I won’t elaborate on the body glide – but I am really starting to need it! I haven’t noticed a difference yet, but hopefully I will as I continue to use it.

And thank goodness I stumbled upon this detergent, as my 3 sets of running fashion outfits are growing quite janky. I feared I would have to invest in an entirely new running wardrobe due to people switching from the treadmills next to me because of stank, but I’m crossing my fingers that this will solve that problem.

Thanks for the fuel advice, guys! I took you up on all of your suggestions.

Though I was totally down for some “dirty eating” on girl’s night last Friday [insert Ben and Jerry’s pint here], my BFF Nancy steered me back in the right direction. 🙂 I’m glad she did, because these no-bake cookie dough balls were just as tasty as any ‘real’ junk food.

Thanks for inspiring this clean eating recipe, Nance! (And for making most of it….)

Not only do you have to dedicate the time to actually run, you have sacrifice time prepping, traveling, and recovering.

Instead of going out late night on the weekend, you have to go to bed earlier.

Driving to and from a trail or the gym can take easily take an hour out of your day.

And you have to make sure you have enough time to stretch, foam roll, and ice afterwards.

Not to mention showering after a run and attempting to make yourself presentable as a functioning member of society.

The whole process of running takes a lot of time. A shit ton more time than I initially expected.

For those that have been running for years and have children, or extra challenges – I seriously applaud you.

It may seem like I’m complaining about how running can be inconvenient. Ok, I am. But I’m also trying to remind myself that it’s worth it. It’s worth driving to the gym on a dark night in the winter when I’d rather be at home, snuggling on my couch.

It’s worth it because of the way I feel after a run or a race is better than having that extra glass of wine and hour(s) to sleep in [most of the time]. I definitely think that with running, you get out of it what you put into it.

So I’m going to keep lacin’ up my sneakers for the time being – even if I don’t always feel like it.